Gorilla goes for stroll in Australian zoo

MELBOURNE, April 10 (UPI) -- A gorilla that made a break for freedom from his enclosure in an Australian zoo was rounded up when a keeper tempted it with a bunch of bananas.

Officials at the Melbourne Zoo said Yakini was more curious than threatening during its brief period of freedom, the Melbourne Herald Sun reported. Official said they believe the 9-year-old gorilla, which weighs more than 200 pounds, took advantage of a palm frond that drooped over the fence to climb out.

At about 5 p.m. local time, a ticket taker spotted the gorilla.

"At first she thought she had seen a child dressed up in a gorilla costume," zoo curator Dan Maloney said.

Visitors were shooed into buildings while keepers tried to wrangle the gorilla.

"He was curious about his excursion, he was adventurous," Maloney said. "But when he saw the senior keeper approach he realized he shouldn't be there so he tried to make his way back to the gorilla area, but he couldn't get over the wall."

A keeper, Damian Lewis, lured Yakini into the elephant barn with a bunch of bananas. The gorilla was tranquilized with a dart and returned to the enclosure -- and the company of its father and brother.